Taking advantage of these people’s daze, Jiuzhu held her skirt and walked up to Shen-shi’s side: “Mother, let’s go.”
“Be calm and don’t panic,” Shen-shi smiled. “In the future, when you meet someone you don’t want to talk to, just maintain a smile and slightly lower your eyes. And they will tactfully leave on their own.”
Jiuzhu chuckled, “Won’t that come off as arrogance?”
“No, it’s not arrogance. It is the authority of those of high rank,” Shen-shi shot a glance at the people who had surrounded Jiuzhu earlier. “Truly smart people won’t use such foolish methods to fawn on you.”
Jiuzhu sighed, “All things are preordained. People in the capital city really live a difficult life.”
Shen-shi smiled, “I forgot, Daoism emphasizes going with the flow and leaving everything to fate. Your personality does have a certain Daoist detachment.”
She patted her daughter’s arm, effectively hiding her worries.
But after marrying into the imperial family, can Empress Su and Chen Wang tolerate her daughter behaving like this all the time?
“With Ming Xianzhu’s temperament, after marrying into the royal family…” Huai Wangfei walked with Sun Caiyao, witnessing the process of Ming Jiuzhu being flattered and then her hasty departure. Her tone was somewhat listless, “Even the most innocent little guniang, once she marries into the imperial family, becomes twisted like a vine wrapped around a tree branch.”
Realizing that her words were inappropriate, Huai Wangfei smiled at Sun Caiyao, “It was merely a jest. Fourth younger sister-in-law mustn’t take it seriously. Mother Consort isn’t feeling well; I should go and help her get back now.”
An Wangfei and Jing Wangfei also went to attend to their respective mothers-in-law. Sun Caiyao stood in place, watching the dwindling crowd in the outer hall, unsure where to go.
“Tonight is the Lantern Festival, right?” She touched the gold phoenix tail hairpin on her head and smiled bitterly. Less than forty-nine days after her mother-in-law’s passing, His Highness and her, as the son and daughter-in-law, not only couldn’t wear mourning clothes but also had to wear grand attires and gold jewelry on the day of the Empress conferral ceremony and pay their respects to Empress Su.
In previous years on the Lantern Festival, she would always go to the streets with her father and siblings to guess the riddles written on lanterns and watch street performances. This year, it seemed that no one would be able to accompany her.
“Huangzifei1T/N: Literally means ‘princess consort’ as huángzǐ (皇子) means prince or imperial son [because ‘皇’ (huáng) is imperial and ‘子’ (zǐ) is son] while fēi (妃) means consort. Before the princes come of age or are bestowed titles of their own (with residences outside the Palace), they’re called huángzǐ. This is usually not apparent in English translation of the titles so I prefer to use pinyins haha. Sun Caiyao is now the principal wife or consort of a prince without title because Yun Yanze was previously demoted from being a (qin) Wang (1st-ranked titled prince– granted to the reigning Emperor’s sons) to Junwang (2nd-ranked titled prince– granted to imperial relatives and people who had done some outstanding service to the country) and finally to a mere huángzǐ (prince without title).…” The palace maid looked at her with concern. Over the past few days, Huangzifei hadn’t been resting properly. As a result, she had lost a lot of weight.
“I’m fine.” Sun Caiyao returned to Zhangliu Palace and took off her jewelry. After changing into plain white clothes, she leaned against the window and watched the gradually darkening sky.
It’s late. Where did His Highness go?
Mingyue Palace was filled with red lanterns and hydrangeas made with ribbons. Even the palace maids and eunuchs wore red waistbands as if they were hosting a wedding.
Emperor Longfeng looked at his absent-minded son, who was staring at the red lanterns, and asked with a smile, “Did Ming family’s little guniang go to the Lantern Festival with her family tonight?”
“It’s her first Lantern Festival in the capital. Of course, she would go,” Chen Wang regained his focus. “Father Emperor, why do you ask?”
“If you want to go, then go,” Emperor Longfeng waved his hand. “That little guniang hadn’t had an easy life so far. You, as her fiancé, shouldn’t miss her first Lantern Festival in the capital.”
Chen Wang shifted in his seat but sat back down. “Father Emperor, erchen is not the kind of person who forgets his parents once he has a wife. Tonight, erchen will accompany you two.”
“Really?” Emperor Longfeng raised an eyebrow.
“Really.” Chen Wang glanced at the dark sky, gritted his teeth and nodded.
Emperor Longfeng looked at his son, who was physically present but mentally distant. He smiled and kicked at him playfully. “Get lost, get lost. Today is an important day for your Mother Empress and me. Who wants you to accompany us!”
Chen Wang dodged the kick and poured tea for Emperor Longfeng and Empress Su. “You really don’t want erchen to accompany you?”
“Zhen heard from Liu Zhongbao that lao da, lao er, and lao san have all taken their Wangfei-s outside the Palace,” Emperor Longfeng stood up and held Empress Su’s hand. “Later, zhen and your Mother Empress will also change into plain clothes and leave the Palace incognito. If you want to stay in Mingyue Palace, zhen won’t force…”
“Erchen won’t disturb Father Emperor and Mother Empress anymore. Erchen will take his leave now,” Chen Wang stood up and took a few quick steps before stopping abruptly. He turned his head, sprinted back and extended a hand before Emperor Longfeng.
Emperor Longfeng reached into his sleeve, fished out a pouch, and tossed it to him. “How old are you now ah? You’re going out with your fiancée and still need your father to fork out money?”
“Father Emperor, a little more,” Chen Wang did not withdraw his hand. “It’s for two people.”
“Liu Zhongbao,” Emperor Longfeng sighed helplessly. “Give him a silver banknote.”
Liu Zhongbao took out a few silver banknotes from his sleeves and asked with a smile, “Your Majesty, which one do you intend to give to His Highness?”
Chen Wang jumped up and grabbed all the silver banknotes from his hands. “Thank you, Father Emperor. Thank you, Mother Empress. Erchen will leave now!”
Watching his joyful figure rush outside, Liu Zhongbao grinned and then bowed apologetically. “This old servant failed to protect the silver banknotes. Please punish this old servant, Your Majesty.”
“Forget it, forget it, zhen knows that you deliberately failed to protect the money,” Emperor Longfeng chuckled instead of getting angry. “Let’s go ah. We are all going outside the Palace to see the fireworks of the common folks.”
After pocketing the silver and running to the Ming residence with the Dragon Guards, Chen Wang learned that the Ming family members had already left half a shichen ago. The servants were also unaware of their whereabouts.
Looking at the bustling crowd, the smile on Chen Wang’s face gradually faded. As he walked on the crowded streets, he found out that apart from the large number of people and the outdated style of the lanterns, the Lantern Festival didn’t hold much meaning.
Scholars and beauties were guessing lantern riddles while strong men carried big and small bags of things for their wives. The lantern stalls were filled with customers who braved the chilly night. There was liveliness all around.
“Your Highness,” one of the Dragon Guards asked softly, “should we return to the Palace now?”
“No need. Ben Wang wants to walk around,” he saw a lantern stall selling puppy lanterns and bought one, holding it in his hand.
The music played by the performers did not please him, the acts at the juggling were so poorly done that one could see through them, and even the funny performances that made the young and old roar with laughter did not seem interesting.
The candle inside the lanterns was about to burn out so the light flickered. Chen Wang stopped in his tracks, looked up at the full moon in the sky and turned to the Dragon Guards with a snort. “Go find some new candles.”
“Brother, that lantern is so beautiful ah,” Jiuzhu pointed to a lantern displayed at the stall. “I want to buy it.”
Ming Jiyuan looked down at the four-five lanterns in his hand and nodded without qualms. “Let’s buy.”
“Shopkeeper, how much for this lantern?” Jiuzhu walked up to the lantern shop and pointed to the topmost one.
“Guniang, that is just for display, not for sale,” the shopkeeper explained in a good mood after noticing the little guniang‘s pretty and endearing visage. “You can take a look at our other lanterns.”
“Not for sale?” Jiuzhu’s shoulders drooped in disappointment. “I see ah.”
Seeing the situation, Ming Jiyuan quickly consoled her: “How about we go somewhere else?”
“Okay,” Jiuzhu nodded, but even after strolling through two or three streets, the siblings didn’t find a lantern like the one before. Jiuzhu sat down dejectedly on a stone bench by the road. “It seems like we won’t be able to buy such a beautiful lantern tonight.”
“Do you really like that lantern a lot?” Ming Jiyuan bought two masks and handed one to Jiuzhu. “Let your Brother think of a solution for you.”
“No need, Brother,” Jiuzhu shook her head. “His Highness can’t step out of the Palace tonight, so I just wanted to buy a few beautiful lanterns to show him. It’s alright if I cannot buy it.”
“Did you buy all these lanterns for His Highness Chen Wang?”
“No ah,” Jiuzhu smiled and pointed to one of them. “This one is for you, Brother. I noticed that you looked at this lantern secretly several times. The rest are for Father, Mother and Chunfen jiejie.”
“What about yours?” Ming Jiyuan asked with a smile.
Jiuzhu froze momentarily. “I forgot…”
“You ah,” Ming Jiyuan laughed and put on the mask. “Let’s go, Brother will accompany you to choose a lantern of your liking.”
Jiuzhu imitated her brother and put on the mask, bouncing along behind him. “Brother, I saw many scholars guessing lantern riddles earlier. You’re so talented, why don’t you join them?”
“Guessing lantern riddles is an opportunity for those students and scholars to make a good name. I’m already a government official, so there’s no need to make things difficult for them,” Ming Jiyuan worried that his little sister would get lost and urged her, “There are many people on the road. Hold onto my clothes so that you don’t get lost.”
“Then let’s go watch the lantern show,” Jiuzhu grabbed Ming Jiyuan’s robe. “There are so many people gathered over there.”
“Alright,” Ming Jiyuan held the lanterns in one hand and protected his little sister with the other, steadily making his way through the crowd. Eventually, they found an exceptionally good spot for watching.
Although he couldn’t see the expression on his little sister’s face, he knew that she must be smiling happily at the moment.
She followed the crowd in excluding and clapping along with them. Her demeanor was carefree, innocent and free from worries.
Under the fireworks and beautiful lanterns, she took off her mask. Her beautiful eyes were shining with happiness.
If he could choose, he didn’t want his little sister to marry into the imperial family.
And yet, for the sake of buying a lantern for Chen Wang, she could walk several streets, ignoring the scenes on the street and not even having time to appreciate the spirit of the Lantern Festival.
“Brother?” Jiuzhu saw her elder brother looking at her and touched her face doubtfully. “What’s wrong?”
“Put on your mask properly,” Ming Jiyuan helped her put on the mask. “The lantern show is over. Should we go taste some sticky rice dumplings?”
“Okay,” Jiuzhu nodded in agreement. As they passed by each lantern stall, her eyes unconsciously searched for the lantern she admired.
Suddenly, Jiuzhu saw a person in the distance, holding a puppy lantern in his left hand and the lantern she had chosen in the other hand. She rushed forward. “Gongzi, please wait.”
The man carrying the lantern stopped in his tracks and turned his head abruptly to look at her. “Ming Xiaozhu?”
“Your Highness?!” Jiuzhu took off her mask. “How did you know it was me?”
“Don’t even mention wearing a mask, even if you cover your whole head, I would still be able to guess it’s you.” He looked down at the lantern in his hand and handed them all to her. “Here, they’re for you.”
The candles inside the lanterns flickered as Jiuzhu took both lanterns. “Are these all bought for me?”
“Who else would I buy them for?” Chen Wang carefully observed the mask. “Where did you buy this? I want to buy one too.”
Jiuzhu turned to look at Ming Jiyuan. “Brother, where did you buy this mask?”
“From a small stall selling masks about a hundred steps from here,” Ming Jiyuan looked at the puppy lantern in Jiuzhu’s hand, remembering that she was born in the Year of the Dog.
“So third Ming gongzi is here too,” Chen Wang gave him a polite nod. “Are Assistant Minister Ming and Madam Ming also here?”
“Replying to Your Highness, our parents are not. They have other plains,” Ming Jiyuan looked at the lantern in Ming Jiuzhu’s hand and spoke gently and elegantly, “Just now, xiaguan’s little sister wanted to buy this lantern to send to the Palace as a gift for Your Highness. She walked three whole streets but couldn’t purchase it. Unexpectedly, Your Highness managed to buy it. Maybe this is precisely what people call ‘fate’.”
“Your Highness, xiaguan’s little sister is young, naive and without experience. Please send her back to the residence before the hour of zishi2T/N: The 2-hour period of 11pm – 1am.,” Ming Jiyuan smiled faintly, “Xiaguan will take his leave first.”
Chen Wang looked at his future older brother-in-law with satisfaction. No wonder people always praised Ming Jiyuan as a refined, smart and handsome gongzi. He was such a nice person ah.
“Brother,” Jiuzhu called out to Ming Jiyuan, her eyes filled with reluctance: “Why would you leave now?”
“I recalled that there are some matters I need to attend to,” Ming Jiyuan looked at Chen Wang, “His Highness will accompany you from here on.”
One wanted to wander through the streets, wishing to purchase the best lantern for him.
One bought a puppy lantern for her and carried it personally, walking on the bustling streets for who knew how long.
He couldn’t bear to be the Queen Mother of the West who drew her hairpin across the sky to create the Heavenly River3T/N: This is a reference to the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver girl. There are a few versions of the story, but according to one, she descended from the Heavens and was taking a bath in a river when a cowherd saw her and fell in love. They soon fell mutually in love but were forced to separate. It is said that the Queen Mother of the West (西王母), at the order of the Jade Emperor, drew her hairpin and created the Heavenly River (银河 or Milky Way) to separate the lovers. But then she pitied them and allowed them to meet one day a year, on the Qixi (or Double Seventh) Festival by sending ten thousand magpies to make a bridge for them (so it is also called Magpie Festival). For more detailed information, click here..
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